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Basic Course Instructor Unit Guide 18: Investigative Report Writing

NCJ Number
149623
Date Published
1994
Length
39 pages
Annotation
This instructor's manual outlines the California training specifications and content for a course on police investigative report writing.
Abstract
Specifications for the training unit encompass instructional goals, required topics, test requirements, required learning activities, and hourly requirements (minimum of 36 hours). Overall, the curriculum provides instruction in improving writing skills, but it assumes that students already have a reasonable command of the English language. Required training topics are how crime, incident, and arrest reports are used by the criminal justice system; notetaking; characteristics of an acceptable law enforcement report; organization and structure of report narratives; anticipation of defenses a suspect is likely to assert; general content requirements of crime, incident, and arrest reports; an understanding of the difference between facts and inference; elements of clear writing; and a review of basic writing mechanics. The curriculum contains 11 distinct sessions. The content of each session is outlined. Sessions address an introduction to police report writing, generation of an effective police report, incident-specific report writing considerations, and writing reports for eight offense types. Offenses are burglary, robbery, homicide, assault, hate crimes, domestic violence, possession of controlled substances, and theft. Exercises are included.